Atlanta Falcons: Could Douglas takeover for ‘Fair Catch Franks’ in the playoffs?
110812 Atlanta - Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dominique Franks breaks away for his second long return against the Dolphins during 2nd half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Friday, August 12, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH — Until last Sunday, Dominique Franks had never played safety. But he was called in replace Hope when he left the game to be examined for a head injury.
“You just always have to be ready,” Franks said. “I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can. I got a chance to get out there and play a little bit of safety.”
Franks has played outside at cornerback and has been the primary nickel back, covering receivers in the slot. At safety, it’s a whole new ball game.
“Really, you have to be more patient,” Franks said. “You are the last defense back there. You have to make sure that you don’t give up the big play and if anything breaks, you’ve got to come up and make sure you make the tackle.”
Franks returns: Some fans on twitter have taken to calling Franks “Fair Catch Franks.” He has 17 fair catches and 20 punt returns for 154 yards (7.7 per return).
His 17 fair catches are seventh-most in the league behind Jets returner Jeremy Kerley (31), Minnesota’s Marcus Sherels (26), Philadelphia’s Damaris Johnson (22), Green Bay’s Randall Cobb (21), Detroit’s Stefan Logan (20) and Miami’s Davonne Bess (18), according to NFL.com stats.
His 7.7 yards per return is 21st in the league among players with at least 20 returns or more. Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin leads the league with an 18.7 averaged and two touchdowns.
“Really, it’s just whatever I see back there,” Franks said. “Really, it’s just make a play. That’s all it is. Every play is different.”
In the loss to the Saints at New Orleans, the Falcons let Harry Douglas return a punt late when they were trying to bust a big return. Perhaps, they’ve been keeping him on ice for the playoffs?
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86 comments Add your comment
ezzy e
December 20th, 2012
5:27 pm
LISTEN UP!!!!!!! HD is to valuable and he used to return before the Knee. As much as i want him to return, Quizz’s brother JAMES RODGERS can return bring him up from the practice squad, Antone Smith is crazy fast
extremus
December 20th, 2012
5:54 pm
The Falcons used to have one of the premier special teams units in the league. It’d be nice to somehow put together that kind of explosiveness and efficiency again, but for now there are simply too many other major needs (RB, D-Line, O-Line) to fill during the offseason.
Chris Eagle
December 20th, 2012
5:56 pm
The Falcons should give tim Toone a chance. I’m not sure why he’s on the roster if it isn’t as insurance for a Punt returner? He looked good in preseason. I guess it would be a knee-jerk reaction to change now though.
PlanB
December 20th, 2012
6:25 pm
Teams less than good need to take chances. The Falcons need only to make sure they don’t give these teams momentum. I cringe on punt returns. A turnover is awful. You loose about 50 yds field position and momentum. I don’t know if Toone or Smith would be better. MS keeps many players under wrap but whoever does it, it needs to be done without turning the ball over. My only complaint is the punts that DF doesn’t catch and rolls 20 yds. No reason a returner can’t catch the ball. Go back 50 yds. Easy to run 10 yds forward or backward and catch the ball.
Whadda Ya Know?
December 20th, 2012
6:43 pm
I don’t feel so bad about Franks now that I see Randall Cobb of Green Bay has more fair catches than Franks. Smitty is directing Franks to simply field the ball to be on the safe side…the man is so cautious. Anyway, Franks has the speed and ability to break one but he spends too much time dancing once the ball is caught. Hit it and go north–not east/west.
Son Of Bart
December 20th, 2012
8:18 pm
I couldn’t care less if he fair caught every punt if he wasn’t standing inside his own ten yard line while he was doing it! More girly play by Smith who obviously has ordered him to do it. Placid, flacid approach to the game. Infuriating. It’s an offensive play. Each and every offensive play should be an attack against the defense.
Mikey
December 20th, 2012
8:26 pm
The punt return team has been the weakest link on special teams. Its not just Franks. If you look at the blocking, too many of the opposing tacklers are on or just in front of Franks at the catch. If he gets a block or two, he seems to jump on it but that has been rare. I have full confidnece in our Falcons coaches to know even more than most of us fans about who is the best returner on the team. I have no doubt that in the interest of continuous improvement, they are working hard on it. Better blocking will have a lot of impact on this unit and I suspect we see it improve in the coming weeks. GO FALCONS! YOU ARE RISING UP!
John John
December 20th, 2012
8:27 pm
The problem, I feel with Franks is not that he doesn’t have great vision and great cutbacks (which he does), its that he moves side to side, dancing too much, instead of bursting through north and south like his shoes were on fire. Watch Devin Hester, Tedd Ginn, and Patrick Peterson…Even Deion Sanders back in the day. They get it make one, maybe two quick cuts, and are bursting through in straight line and up to full speed pretty quickly, taking it to the house. Franks had the longest 28 yard return this year I have seen. He was juking and moving laterally, and he was finding some holes, but eventually the whole team will have time to surround you, if you arent in the end zone very quickly after the return. It took him 20 seconds and looked alot better, and he only got 28 yards. He needs less cuts and jukes, and just try to find a good seam and stick to it, then once you get people in your review, THEN you can use some ankle breakers on the few remaining defenders blocking your way. Just my analysis, because I feel with TIME this kid has some talent and could be pretty good. I mean this is his first season returning punts and 7.7 is not terrible, its 21st in the league and he is a rookie. I remember he had a touchdown return in the preseason, and had alot of good ones at Oklahoma Also remember it takes good blocking as well, and the Falcons may not be getting great blocks from their special teams. I still don’t know why we let Weems walk….
Michael M.
December 20th, 2012
8:27 pm
Falcons are going to kick the Lion’s ASS and have em playing through the Dome……………..do I have to say what will happen when they face Atlanta in the Dome?……………..Curtains for the Visitor…….
Michael M.
December 20th, 2012
8:31 pm
and rest the starters against Tampa Bay and lose…………….13-3 going into the playoffs
okeetee
December 20th, 2012
8:52 pm
“I said this before that it is and will be our achilles heel.”
…..what! Are you a football clown or something??? If making fair catches becomes our Achilles heal then we won’t be going very far in the playoff! Fumbling fair catches would be a problem, but as someone pointed out, Franks rarely, if ever, fumbles fair catches! Last I looked, that’s a good thing!
okeetee
December 20th, 2012
8:55 pm
By the way, fair catching punts is alot better than not fair catching them…..and then get a 10 yard penalty for holding or clipping and starting inside the 10 yard line!
Son Of Bart
December 20th, 2012
9:14 pm
Does anyone know if Tim Toone is hurt? I remember another little squirt of a punt returner who could make that first step and make the play that is one of the most exciting in football. His name was Tim Dwight. Can’t remember is someone finally broke him into — but he was fun to watch! Almost couldn’t wait for the opposing team to punt!
Son Of Bart
December 20th, 2012
9:15 pm
if..not is
Michael M.
December 20th, 2012
10:14 pm
They traded Tim away………………guy was tough on returns……………never could reason the trade…………………still shaking my head about that one…………………..
Fair catch Franks
December 20th, 2012
10:14 pm
Herman Edwards said it best hello you play to win the game. You can not play to lose. All i am saying is dont fair catch the ball because you’re afraid you will fumble. To beat teams like San Francisco you need to take advantage of every opportunity; fair catching the ball with the defenders 5 yards away does not do that. When he makes a big play or takes 1 to the house fair catch Franks will be never more quote the Raven
bp
December 20th, 2012
10:15 pm
who is worried about punt returns,we are 12 and 2 quit bitchin this a good team.
Michael M.
December 20th, 2012
10:22 pm
even I agree with them being a good team……………….still think they lose the last one to the Bucs before they go on a run to the Bowl
4.3 Speed
December 21st, 2012
12:08 am
We need somebody with speed to return both punts and kicks. There will never be a kick-off TD or punt TD with Rodgers or Franks. If a line-backer can out run Rodgers, then how can he out run the defenders? We need to improve on this position next year. I say Toone would be fastest person we could use the rest of this year and playoffs and upgrade next year to….the honey badger?
DR. FALCON
December 21st, 2012
12:18 am
AT THIS POINT, WE NEED SOMEONE TO SECURE THE BALL! THE PLAYOFF PRESSURE IS DIFFERENT! REMEMBER #10 FOR THE 49ER’S LAST YEAR? HE BLEW THAT GAME! KEEP FRANKS IN THERE!
Flo-Ri-Duh
December 21st, 2012
2:31 am
Stupid idea to have the starting WRs return kicks and chance an injury……. Douglas has a history of injuries.
Samuel
December 21st, 2012
8:10 am
Dominique Franks very rarily gives the Falcons a spark. If not Douglas, there are other guys on the team who are capable……
Jay
December 21st, 2012
8:27 am
Are we saving the No Huddle for the playoffs too???
Roger
December 21st, 2012
8:50 am
Go Falcons….I would hope Franks would be replaced…field position is critical agaisnt big time teams and the threat of a returner being able to ake it to the house changes things.
On another note:
The great Georgia Tech football player Larry Morris died december 19th. All SEC, All American and MVP of the Super Bowl Chicago Bears. Perhaps the best all time Tech player. Rest in peace Larry!
harleyman
December 21st, 2012
10:11 am
Fair-catching is the only thing I pray Franks will do. To big of a liability.
Scott Case's leggs
December 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Have me field it….i am still as fast as a deer
Joey The Bull
December 21st, 2012
11:09 am
Can we get in the Delorean and travel back to ‘98 and grab Tim Dwight?
single white dove
December 21st, 2012
3:51 pm
Joey The Bull
December 21st, 2012
11:09 am
Can we get in the Delorean and travel back to ‘98 and grab Tim Dwight?
Tim Dwight? Why not Deon Sanders?
single white dove
December 21st, 2012
3:54 pm
harleyman
December 21st, 2012
10:11 am
Fair-catching is the only thing I pray Franks will do. To big of a liability.
Fair catching? I would settel for catching the ball period.
veedub
December 21st, 2012
3:57 pm
DONT WANT HARRY DOUG TO GET HURT?? WHAT ELSE IS HE DOING BESIDES JUST RUNNING ROUTES?????? HE’s NOT A THREAT IN THE PASSING GAME FOR SURE!!
harleyman
December 21st, 2012
7:44 pm
Good point single white dove
Gritsfalcon
December 22nd, 2012
6:02 am
To Mike Smith: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT start tinkering when you get INTO the playoffs. If you are going to make ANY changes DO THEM NOW!
BK
December 22nd, 2012
10:30 am
THIS IS WHEN WE WISH WE STILL HAD WEEMS, BEACUSE FRANKS IS GARBAGE 7.7 AVG IS A JOKE..HD HELL ANYONE CAN DO BETTER THAN FRANKS RIGHT NOW TRY ANTONIO SMITH…ANYONE BUT FRANKS HE IS WEEK!!!!
BK
December 22nd, 2012
10:39 am
ONLY PROBLEM HAVING HD RETURN PUNTS IS HE GETS HURT VERY EASY….
W.R.Terrell
December 23rd, 2012
7:56 am
I for one do not see anything wrong with so-called “Fair catch Franks”. On the other hand I am hostile about fumbles. Great punt returns happens but so do a lot of fumbles. There’s a few old sayings that come to mind. (1) “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” and (2) Leave well enough alone”.
Jay
December 24th, 2012
11:40 am
It IS worth having Harry Douglas back there. Playoffs is so much about field position. Maybe I agree because I thought Harry Douglas should have been returning punts SINCE 2008!!!